Catfish rally to defeat Thrillbillies 9-5

The Cape Catfish rebounded from their second loss of the season by defeating the Thrillville Thrillbillies 9-5 on Monday in Capaha Field.

The Catfish were down early after Kaleb Herbert led off the game with a home run to highlight a three-run first-inning barrage.

The Catfish mashed 16 hits collectively, as eight of the nine hitters in the lineup safely reached base.

"I can't imagine being a pitcher," Catfish shortstop Justin Carinci said. "We're all swinging it."

Left fielder Brody Chrisman drove in the first run of the game on a ground-out to first base in the bottom of the first inning. The Catfish would later take a 4-3 lead in the third inning on a single by Carinci, scoring Jeff Clarke.

The Trillbillies struck back with a solo home run in the fourth inning by Cole Smith, and Herbert scored on a wild pitch in the fifth to retake a 5-4 lead.

It was all Catfish after that. They scored two runs in the fifth inning on errors and errant pitches. Kevin McCarthy drew a walk with the bases loaded in the seventh inning, scoring Chris Hall, who touched home plate three times during the game.

Lane Crowden rounded out the scoring for the Catfish by driving in two with a single to left field. Crowden, a Jackson native and infielder for Southern Indiana, went 3 for 4 with two RBI to lead the offense.

A pair of Notre Dame alums appeared from both bullpens late in the game. Noah Gadberry got two outs, including a strikeout, for the Catfish in the eighth inning. Austin Gast closed out the game for the Thrillbillies. He got the final four outs without allowing a hit or walk. Both Gast and Gadberry graduated from Notre Dame in 2021.

The Catfish improved their record to 15-2, the best record in the Prospect League. The two teams will face each other again at 6:45 p.m., on Tuesday in Marion, Illinois.